LAS VEGAS – UFC president Dana White wants to book an immediate rematch between “absolute (expletive)” savages Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno after UFC 256.

Figueiredo (20-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and Moreno (18-5-2 MMA, 6-2-2 UFC) put on an all-time title fight in Saturday’s headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. They fought to a majority draw in an epic back-and-forth battle.

Both men went through tremendous punishment in the five-round contest, but the result begged a second fight to decide a conclusive winner. White agreed to as much, and said he intends to put them back in the octagon as soon as possible.

“We’ve got to give these guys some time off – but you absolutely, positively do that rematch,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC 256. “That’s another fun fight for us all to look forward to in 2021.”

As far as the fight itself, White said he thought the result should’ve been different. He pointed to a point deduction against Figueiredo that came after a low blow as the reason for the draw.

“I had Figueiredo winning the fight,” White said. “(After) the point deduction, the whole fight turned. Moreno started coming on stronger. He probably won that round without the point deduction. That’s when the whole fight started to turn.”

It’s unknown when the rematch between Figueiredo and Moreno will happen. White said both men can “take as much time as they need” after two bouts in 21 days.

The initial bout was a memorable way to close the UFC’s 2020 title fight schedule, though. It already is being discussed as a potential “Fight of the Year,” alongside the brutal UFC 248 title bout between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

White didn’t give a definitive opinion on the best UFC bout of the year, but said both were tremendous fights.

“Joanna and Weili was really good, too,” White said. “It was just so long ago people need to remember how really damn good that fight was.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-256-dana-white-plans-deiveson-figueiredo-vs-brandon-moreno-immediate-rematch

LAS VEGAS – UFC president Dana White has no clear answers on what the future holds for Tony Ferguson after his loss at UFC 256.

Ferguson (25-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC), a former interim UFC lightweight champion, has consecutive losses for the first time in his career after he was dominated by Charles Oliveira (30-8 MMA, 18-8 UFC) in a unanimous decision defeat in their co-main event matchup at UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday.

After succumbing to a fifth-round TKO vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 249 in May to snap his 12-fight winning streak, White said prior to UFC 256 that he thought there was good reason to think Ferguson would bounce back. That didn’t happen, and now the UFC boss isn’t sure what’s on deck.

“I thought we were going to see the old Tony,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC 256. “I thought that the last fight he was affected by weight cutting and we were going to see (the old Tony). Ten out of 10 people tap to that armbar (against Oliveira). The fact he even made it through the armbar is unbelievable and just a testament to how tough and durable and crazy Tony Ferguson is.”

After losing his past two fights definitively, Ferguson now will be a subject of speculation. He will turn 37 in February and finds himself in the most challenging moment of his career. Is this just a bump in the road, or is it a notable downward slide? White said he can’t answer that.

“Of course that’s possible (he’s past his prime), but Tony needs to go home and spend the holidays with his family and take some time off and think about what he wants to do next year and we’ll see what’s next for him,” White said. “But yes, every time you fight in this business, that’s always possible.”

One thing that appears to be a new reality for Ferguson at this point, though, is that the lightweight belt could be out of reach for good. A matchup with lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov has been one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history, but it has failed to materialize five times.

It’s unfortunate, but not something White said he dwells on in the current landscape.

“No (I don’t worry about it); it just didn’t (happen),” White said. “It wasn’t from lack of trying. We put that fight together five times. It just wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think about it at all.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-256-dana-white-reaction-tony-ferguson-future-loss-charles-oliveira

Romero Cotton remained unbeaten when he made quick work of Justin Sumter at Bellator 254 on Thursday.

Following his win, Cotton (5-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) talked reporters through his finish, making advancements in his game during his 11 months off, not worrying about calling anyone out, and more.

You can watch the full interview in the video above.

Bellator 254 took place Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card aired on CBS Sports Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/romero-cotton-wont-call-anyone-out-focused-on-building-himself-people-are-gonna-start-calling-for-me

Bella Mir, daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, now has two professional MMA wins on her record – all before age 18.

After winning a decision in her debut in October, Mir (2-0) competed in her sophomore fight on Friday at iKON 4 MMA in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico. She didn’t need the judges this time, because the result was a quick submission win.

Alma Cespedes (0-3) offered little resistance to Mir in the women’s featherweight bout, getting caught in a rear-naked choke and put out cold at the 1:53 mark of Round 1.

Check out the replay below (via Twitter):

Bella Mir seals it in the first round!#iKon4 pic.twitter.com/lHEWzbtKJB

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 12, 2020

It’s a tough mountain to climb but 2-0 at 17 is one hell of a start.#iKon4 pic.twitter.com/l863W24K62

— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 12, 2020

The performance by Mir served as a great joy to her father. Frank holds the UFC record for most first-round submission wins, and he was pleased to see his daughter follow in his footsteps (via Instagram):

A post shared by Frank Mir (@thefrankmir)

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/video-bella-mir-undeeated-mma-start-frank-submission-win

In the night’s co-main event, the Netherlands’ Agy Sardari stepped into the Cage Warriors cage for the first time in his career, then left it as the promotion’s lightweight champion after edging a five-round battle with Jack Grant for the vacant title.

In a cagey opening round, Grant (16-6) worked from the outside and scored with a variety of kicks from range, while Sardari (13-2) seemed content to follow him around the cage and wait patiently for an opening that never really presented itself.

Sardari upped his intensity at the start of Round 2 as he looked to close the distance and put the pressure on Grant, who continued to fire stinging leg kicks and straight punches at the Dutchman. The first big breakthrough came when Grant decked Sardari with a beautifully-timed right hand, but Sardari followed suit and forced Grant to touch down after a left hook found its mark.

The pace dropped somewhat through Round 3, with much of the round spent clinch-fighting against the cage as the two title fighters largely canceled each other out, but Round 4 saw the pair return to their striking as the bout headed into the championship rounds.

Grant continued to pepper Sardari’s legs with kicks, but a solid overhand right, then a three-punch combination from the Dutchman served as a handy reminder that the Englishman needed to remain on his guard toward the end of the round.

With both men bordering on exhaustion after heading into the fifth round for the first time in their respective careers and, with Sardari looking to load up on his punches, Grant rolled for a heel hook, which was defended in part by the Dutchman grabbing the cage. Referee Dan Movahedi saw the illegal move and slapped Sardari’s hand off the fence.

Sardari took Grant’s back and looked to weigh heavy on his rival while connecting with punches to the head. Grant escaped, but Sardari stayed glued to the Englishman. An omoplata attempt from Grant eventually ended with both men back on their feet, swinging for the fences as the final horn sounded.

In the end, the judges were split on the verdict, but it was Sardari who picked up the all-important win to claim the vacant title, with scores of 49-46, 47-48, 48-47.

The Wolverine has done it! 🇳🇱 Agy Sardari is your NEW Lightweight Champion after a technical chess match here at #CW119 🏆♟

That was seriously high level, folks. pic.twitter.com/D18TAQl9lm

— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) December 12, 2020

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/cage-warriors-119-live-results